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Archives: Elders

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has issued an official guidance making it clear that same-sex partners and others must be given equal visitation rights at long-term care facilities, regardless of their marital status.

(San Francisco, July 27, 2012)—Yesterday, the National Center for Lesbian Rights Elder Law Project and the San Francisco Human Rights Commission co-hosted “Setting the Agenda: Issues Facing LGBTQ Elders of Color,” a groundbreaking meeting that brought together representatives from nearly two dozen government agencies and organizations to discuss key issues and obstacles facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer elders of color.

(San Francisco, CA, December 20, 2011)—A pioneering new guide released today gives California’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender elders—who are more likely to face discrimination, be low-income, and live in poverty—comprehensive information about their rights and the services that are available to them as they navigate the system of public and social benefits.

Statement by NCLR Federal Policy Director Maya Rupert, Esq.
(Washington D.C., December 9, 2011)—This week, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) co-hosted a day-long summit on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender elder housing issues with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This is the first-ever national event to address housing, health and long-term care issues for LGBT elders. More than 90 people registered for the event, and the list of attendees included three assistant secretaries.

Statement by NCLR Federal Executive Director Kate Kendell, Esq.
(San Francisco, CA, October 11, 2011)—On October 9, 2011, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a bill—AB 641—that provides same-sex spouses and registered domestic partners of nursing home residents the same financial protections available to opposite sex married couples. The groundbreaking law protects Californians in same sex relationships from losing access to joint financial resources, such as bank accounts or stock, when their partner or spouse applies for the Medi-Cal long-term care benefit.

Assembly Bill 641 Extends Financial Protections for Medi-Cal’s Long Term Care Benefit to Same Sex Spouses and Registered Domestic Partners
(Sacramento, CA, September 9, 2011)—The Legislature has given final approval to legislation authored by Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) that would provide same sex spouses and registered domestic partners of nursing home residents the same financial protections available to opposite sex married couples. Without these protections, Californians in same sex relationships risk losing access to joint financial resources, such as bank accounts or stock, when their partner or spouse applies for the Medi-Cal long term care benefit.

(San Francisco, CA, April 5, 2011)—A majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults who answered a national online survey believe that staff of long-term care facilities would discriminate against an LGBT elder who was open about his or her sexual orientation, and more than half believe that staff or other residents would abuse or neglect an LGBT elder.

(San Francisco, CA, July 23, 2010) —Late yesterday evening, Clay Greene and the estate of Harold Scull, Greene's deceased partner of 20 years, reached a settlement resolving their lawsuit against the County of Sonoma (“County”) and other defendants.

Fellowship launches the Del Martin Memorial LGBT Elder Advocacy Initiative
San Francisco, CA, July 6, 2010) —Today, the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) announced the expansion of the organization’s pioneering elder law advocacy work with the launch of the Del Martin LGBT Elder Advocacy Initiative. Daniel R. Redman, Esq. joins NCLR as the recipient of both the Pride Law Fund Tom Steel Fellowship and the Berkeley Law Foundation (BLF) Fellowship. Building on NCLR’s decade-long commitment to fighting for LGBT seniors, the Del Martin Initiative focuses on LGBT elders in long-term care facilities and other institutional settings. Through litigation, legislative work, and outreach to eldercare professionals, the project aims to make sure that LGBT elders are treated with dignity, care, and respect.

Long-term partners had taken necessary steps to protect relationship in time of crisis
(San Francisco, CA, April 19, 2010) — Today, NCLR launched a national media campaign to bring visibility to a tragic new case where Sonoma County, California officials separated an elderly gay couple and sold their worldly possessions despite the measures the men had taken to protect their relationship.